Combination-lock



W. J. H. RUSCHMEYER. COMBINATIONlOCK. APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. 1920.

Patented Oct 25, 1921.

A r lpumumu INVENTBR OFFlC COMBINATION-LOCK.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedtOct.25, 1921.

Application filed April 12, 1920. Serial No; 373,068.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J.

RUSCHMEYER, a citizen of German Repubto the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of'this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide an efficient locking means that is usable in connection with any form of device where two parts are to be locked into connection or disconnection. The invention finds its particular advantage in locking parts of an automobile in certain position to prevent the operation of the automobile, such as looking a disconnecting means in the gas supply, or looking a disconnecting means between a mechanical starting means and the shaft of the engine or looking the manual means to prevent operation of a manually oper ated switch that controls a circuit of the starting motor or theignition circuit.

The invention particularly provides a means whereby the lock may be readily altered or adjusted to combinations which, when set in a certain selected order, will permit the operation-of the particular -device controlled 'by'the locking means. also has for its object to provide a connecting means controlled by a plurality of elemental memberseach of which must be so disposed with reference to the connecting means as to. permit movement of the connecting means to connect with the particular device to..be operated by it. The invention has for its object to provide other advantages and features which will appear from' the following description and upon examination .of the drawings.

The invention maybe contained in structures of different forms. To illustrate a practical application of the invention 1 have selected one of the structures contain hereby declare the following the invention and shall describe it hereinafter. The structure selected is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a perspective view of a locking device for controll ng a switch which may be located in the ignition circuit of an automobile. The manual means for operating the switch is removed for purpose of illustration. Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the locking deviceshowing the connecting means for operating the switch which ,is omitted from the illustration of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an end view of the device illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line l-4 indicated in F g.2. Fig. 5 is a broken view on a scale larger than that of the other figures showing a detail of construction of a part of the locking means. Fig. 6 is a perspective broken view of one of the locking members or elements.

1 is a. shell formed of a cylindrical part 2 and the casing 3. The cylindrical part of the shell 1 contains the locking means and the casing 3 contains the device thatris operated through the locking device contained in the cylindrical part 2. A plurality of short cylindrical members 4: havingfianges and shoulders 24 that provide for interfitting of the end edges-0f the short cylindrical members 4: are located in thecylindrical portion of the shell. The outer surfaces of the cylindrical members 4: loosely fit within the cylindrical portion 2 of the shell'l and the inner surfaces of the short cylindrical members 4 are provided with the corrugations 6. The corrugations may be of different forms. They may be sinuous in outline or they may be angular, or they maybe semi-cylindrical, the semi-cylindrical surfaces having their centers located outside of the general contour of the interior surface of each short cylindrical member in the form shown in the drawings. One edge, preferably the inner edges with respect to the outer end of the cylindrical portion'2 of the shell 1, is provided with a flange 7. This flange may be so formed that it will not extend to the centers of the corrugations oftheinner surfaces. Each short cylindrical member 4 is provided with a disk 5 that may have a thickness substantially equal to one-half the altitude of the short cylindrical members 4. The thickness of the disk 5 should be such as to leave a space within each cylindrical member 4 when the disk 5 is inserted in the cylindrical member 4. Each disk 5 is provided with a corrugated outer surface or edge to fit the inner corrugated surface of each cylindrical member. The disks 5 are placed within the short cylindrical mem bers 4, preferably they are pushed within the cylindrical members until they come in cont-act with the flange or projecting part 7 formed on the cylindrical member in each case. When the cylindrical members are placed in position within the shell 1, the disks will be disposed in spaced and parallel relation within the shell.

The disks are provided with central openings 8 and with slots 9 that extend to the openings 8. When the disks and cylindrical members are placed in position on the shell, the openings 8 will be in alinement and so as to receive an arbor 10. The disks 5 somewhat loosely fit the arbor 10 when the arbor 10 is inserted in position. The arbor 10 is supported in the ends of the cylindrical portion 2 of the shell 1, and it operates to maintain the cylindrical members 4 and the disks 5 in substantial alinement. The arbor 10 is provided with a plurality of lugs 11 that rotrude from the surface of the arbor 10. They extend normally into the spaces existing between the disks 5, that is, within the outer ends of the cylindrical members 4. The protuberances or lugs 11 are of a size that they will readily enter the slots 9 when the slot of each disk is in alinement with the coacting lug 11 of the arbor 10. If the lugs 11 protrude from one side of the arbor, the arbor 10 may be moved axially when the slots 9 are in alinement. If, however, one of the slots 9 is not in alinement with its coacting lug 11, longitudinal movement of the arbor 10 is prevented. The cylinders 4 may be provided with designating numbers or other insignia located on their outer surfaces and'which will correspond to the several corrugated surfaces located on the inner sides of the cylindrical members and the cylindrical portion 2 of the shell 1 may be provided with a slot 12 that extends along one side of the cylindrical portion 2 through which the designating insignia may be noted. Inasmuch as the disks 5 may be inserted in any position rotatably with reference to the cylinders 4, and their designating numbers or insignia, the positions of the slots 9 may be altered with reference to the designating numbers or insignia as may be desired. So that any one of the numbers or letters of each cylinder may be selected for indicating the relative position of the slot 9 of the trolled by the disk contained in that cylinder. By this arrangement any secret combination may be made to indicate to the one possessing the secret the relative positions of the slots 9. The cylinders may thus be turned so that the proper insignia will appear in the slot 12 that will bring the slots 9 in alinement with the coacting lugs 11. When the adjustment has been made by rotation of the cylinders, the arbor 10 may be moved longitudinally so that the lugs 11 will enter the slots 9. The operation of the means conlocking means may then be performed. The cylindrical portion 2 of the shell 1 is preferably formed of two parts consisting of the cover 19 which is hinged along one side as at 20 to the shell 1. If desired, it may be provided with a lock or an engaging means 21 to hold the cover 19 closed. Also the end of the shell 1 is provided with a slot 22 in order that the arbor 10 may enter the shell, the lugs 11 passing through the slot 22 at; the end of the shell.

In the form shown in arbor 10 operates when moved longitudinally to connect a manual means such as the handle 13 with a switch. In the form shown, the switch consists of the fixed contact 14 and the movable contact 15, the movable contact 15 may be operated by a gear wheel 16 which meshes with the Worm 17. The worm 17 is provided with a square pyramidal end 18 which fits an opening having the corresponding shape formed in the inner end of the arbor 10, so that when the arbor 10 is moved longitudinally, connection is established between the arbor 10 and the worm 17. The switch is opened and closed by the operation of the handle 13. The locking means may thus be operated to prevent either opening or to prevent closing of the switch. The locking means may be used to control the interrelation that is the connection or disconnection of a great variety of correlated parts.

I claim:

Ina combination lock, a cylindrical shell having a slot, a plurality of cylinders having corrugated inner surfaces formed by substantially convex semi-cylindrical surfaces formmg corners between adjoining convex surfaces and having designated indicia located around the outside of the cylinders and so that one or the other of the in dicia may register with the slot of the shell, a plurality of disks, each disk having a thickness less than the height of a cylinder, the disks located at the ends of the cylinders and sothat the disks of adjoining cylinders will be located in spaced relation, one end of each cylinder being provided with proecting flanges located between adjoining convex surfaces of the cylinder, each disk having a corrugated surface corresponding to the corrugated surface of the cylinders and formed by a plurality of adjoining semicylindrical concave surfaces, the points formed between the adjoining concave surfaces at one end thereof placed against the flanges between the concave surfaces of the cylinder, each disk being provided with an axial opening and a slot extending therefrom, the cylinders being rabbeted at their ends so as to fit adjoining cylinders, a key to register with the slots and the slots, and

pass through a means operated by the key member when the tongues have entered the slots.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed mv name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. H. RUSC HMEYER. 

